Bartley joins Blues on loan
2nd July 2013
Swans defender kyle Bartley has agreed a season-long loan with Championship side Birmingham City.
Bartley, 22, has found game-time hard to come by since his £1m move from Arsenal in August 2012 on a three-year contract.
He made his Swans debut in the Capital One Cup second-round win over Barnsley at the Liberty last season.
But a thigh injury in September 2012 ruled him out for three months, before he returned in January to make four more appearances.
The move to St Andrews should allow Bartley to gain more first-team experience.
The Stockport-born defender began his youth career with Bolton, before joining Arsenal in 2007 to become part of the successful Premier Academy League and FA Youth Cup side in 2008-09.
Highly-rated, the youngster also went on to skipper the Reserves at the Emirates and made one senior appearance in the Champions League against Olympiakos in 2009.
Later that season he was part of the Sheffield United side that beat the Swans at Bramall Lane, and again the following campaign as the Blades won 1-0 on home soil.
After a second temporary stint at Sheffield United, Bartley spent 2011-12 in the Scottish Premier League on loan at Rangers as he gained further experience.
